No doubt you have heard some teaching about baptism before. Most often, that teaching comes when someone is being baptised, which is the case for our Church today. Like all teaching, however, it never hurts to hear it again. So I decided that on this special day in our local congregation when we will be celebrating the baptism of a brother in Christ who has embraced the gospel later in life and experienced the transforming power of God’s amazing grace, it would be good to take another look at this special sacrament or ordinance of the Church. Baptism might appear a little ‘strange’ to the world around us but the truth is, baptism points to is the greatest truth known to mankind.

Why do we baptise? There are two reasons why we continue with the practice of baptism. Firstly it was Jesus Himself Who told His disciples to, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19). So first and foremost we baptise because Jesus asked us to continue this symbolic practice.

We also baptise because baptism was an established practice of the Early Church. In Acts 2:41, we read about the converts on that Day of Pentecost: “Those who accepted his message were baptised, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.”  In Acts 8:26-39 we read of Philip preaching to the eunuch from Isaiah 33, as they went on their way, the eunuch inquired if he might be baptised (v. 38). Further examples of Apostolic practice may be found in Acts 10:44-48; 16:31-33 and 18:8.

Who should be baptised? Well the simple answer from the Bible is that disciples (or followers) of Jesus Christ, i.e. believers, and those who have received the Holy Spirit are baptised. The eunuch confessed his faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and then Philip baptised him (Acts 8:30-38; cf. Acts 16:33-34). That’s why believers who are baptised usually make a profession of faith to those who may gather to witness and celebrate their baptism. 

Peter was privileged to preach the gospel to the Gentiles for the first time at Cornelius’ home. While Peter was still preaching, “.. the Holy Spirit fell on all of them that heard the word.”  Peter then inquired, “Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptised which have received the Holy Spirit as well as we?” Then he commanded them to be baptised in the name of the Lord (Acts 10:44-48). Therefore, we conclude that those who have personally confessed Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord (i.e. Christians) should be baptised.

What is baptism?  let’s look at the practice itself and what it really means. Baptism is a declaration of the believer’s identification with Jesus Christ. Specifically we identify with Christ in four ways:

We identify with Christ in His death: “Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptised into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?” (Romans 6:3)

We identify with Christ in His burial: “We have been buried with Him through baptism into death” (Romans 6:4a)

We identify with Christ in His resurrection: “As Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:4b)

We identify with Christ in His life: “It’s no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

The simplest way I can explain baptism is this:  Baptism is an outward physical sign of an inward spiritual reality.

Baptism is a declaration of the believer’s identification with Christ in His, death, burial, resurrection and life. That’s why the Apostle Paul could say “I am crucified with Christ” (Galatians 2:20). Christ’s death is a death for the believer. The believer’s identification with Christ in His death is symbolized by his going under the water “buried with Him by baptism into death.” But the Apostle also speaks of our being “risen with Christ” (Colossians 3:1).

Our identification with Him in resurrection life is symbolized by our coming up out of the water “… as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Thus, baptism is an acknowledgement that our fallen humanity and its sinful ways are dead in Christ, “we are crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed” and in our baptism we profess that we are living a new life that henceforth we do not serve sin, but that we now walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:6).

So let me say it again, baptism is not just a tradition. It’s not just a ceremony. It’s a proclamation – a statement shouted not only to those present but to the whole world: “I belong to Jesus now. My old life is gone. I’ve been made new!”

Today, as we celebrate adult baptism, we remember that this moment doesn’t just affect the person in the water – it affects everyone watching. It’s a moment of witness, of identity, of calling. That’s why I have called this sermon: Let the whole world know! Baptism also proclaims a new allegiance.

Matthew 28:18-20  “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’”

Jesus’ final instruction was not about keeping quiet – it was about going public. It wasn’t about private belief only – it was about visible discipleship. Baptism is the first outward sign of inward faith. It’s when we declare:

I no longer serve sin; I serve Jesus.
My identity is now found in Christ, not in culture, success, or shame.
He is Lord, and I’m not ashamed to say so.

Baptism is saying to the world, “I’ve changed teams.” The water becomes the boundary between the old allegiance and the new. Baptism is only a symbolic action, however, what baptism symbolises is absolutely mind-blowing and powerful.

Romans 6:3-4 “Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”

Baptism is dramatic because the gospel is dramatic. When a believer goes under the water, they are saying:

“I have died with Christ.”
“My old life, my sin, my shame, my past – that’s gone.”

And when they rise out of the water, it’s a symbol of resurrection:

“I’ve been raised to walk in newness of life.”
“Jesus didn’t stay in the grave, and neither will I.”
“This is the beginning of my new life – forever.”

It is death, burial, and resurrection – acted out in living colour. So why are we fully immersed in the water? Because it shows the fullness of that picture. The old self goes completely under; the new self rises fully alive. It’s not just a sprinkle of change – it is a total transformation.

Baptism is also not private. It is a bold witness to the world. It is not just a quiet commitment. It’s a public declaration of ownership and faith. When you get baptized, you’re saying:

“I don’t care who knows – I love Jesus.”
“You can mock me, question me, challenge me – but I am His.”
“Let the whole world know – I’m following Jesus with my whole life.”

Matthew 10:32  “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.”

Baptism is one of the clearest and most powerful ways we can acknowledge Jesus before others. Some of you may be afraid to go public. Maybe you’re a quiet person. Maybe you think your faith is private. But let me say this clearly: If Jesus went to the cross publicly for you, don’t be ashamed to go through the waters of baptism publicly for Him. Let your life be a megaphone for the grace of God. Let the whole world know that Jesus saves, and that He has saved you.

Let me now say something about the way we baptise. This is a little controversial and some parts of the church have a very different practice when it comes to baptism both in how the baptism occurs and who is baptised. There are hundreds of pages of church history I could give you to read which would explain how this division developed in the church – but at the end of the day, we really need to just go back to the beginning and see what happened when the church was born. When we examine the practice of the early church, we are forced to conclude two things about those who are baptised. Number one: they are believers. They are followers of Jesus Christ. They have been born-again into the Kingdom of God and they publicly proclaim Jesus as Lord. Number two: they are baptised by being fully immersed in water. In fact, the actual word baptism was transliterated from the word baptizo meaning to “make fully whelmed; to dip or to sink”. That’s why it says in John 3:23 that, “John was baptising at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water.”  When baptised, believers went down into the water (Acts 8:38) and came up from the water (Matthew 3:16).

Therefore, baptism by immersion is the biblical pattern for the church. The symbol of baptism by immersion is also the most meaningful and it fits with the reality behind baptism in that it pictures a believer’s identification with Christ’s death, burial and resurrection. When the believer goes down into the water, death is pictured; when the believer goes under the water, burial is pictured; when the believer comes out of the water, resurrection is pictured. All this symbolism is lost when sprinkling is practiced – and therefore the symbolic power and fullness of meaning of baptism is lost.

So what does that say about the long-established practice of baptising infants by sprinkling water on them? Is this a real baptism? If I have been sprinkled like this as a baby does that mean I should not be baptised as a believer when I am able to make my own profession of faith? Tough questions. This is a very challenging conversation to have and I have had it many times with many people over many years.  For some people, their infant baptism is very real and it’s when they go through another process called ‘confirmation’ that they make their own personal profession of faith and in some way legitimise or ‘confirm’ the baptism they had when they were too young to even remember. I respect those people and those churches which teach and practice this thing which many of us prefer to call a ‘Christening’ but I am a simple man and I prefer simple solutions.

The simple solution for me is this: don’t change what never needed changing. Baptism in the New Testament is pretty clear and you simply cannot build an argument for infant baptism from the Bible. Many have tried, but in my opinion, they have failed and always will fail because you cannot inject a foreign theology and practice back into the historical account of the early church. So my advice to those who were sprinkled as a child in another part of the church is to ask God what you should do. This is not a life and death issue – baptism is not essential for salvation. However, it is a very powerful testimony and a truly beautiful symbolic declaration of what God has already done in your life.  So if you believe God is opening the door for you to be baptised as a believer, then it doesn’t matter what happened to you when you were a child and knew nothing about faith or Jesus. You can respect your parents in the choice they made and the Church which supported that choice – but you are not bound by it. Let God lead you.

I remember my baptism like it was yesterday, even though it happened 52 years ago. I professed my faith in Jesus Christ and was baptised by immersion and it was a life-defining moment for me in more ways than one. So I make no apology for my support for believers’ baptism by immersion – not just because I have studied the theology of baptism and the early church practice of baptism – I am a rusted-on supporter of believers Baptism by immersion because of my own experience and because it is without doubt the most powerful symbolic representation of my salvation and God’s grace.

That is why I have always encouraged people to seek the Lord about their own baptism and not to be afraid to quite literally ‘take the plunge’ and profess your faith publicly in this very special way. It doesn’t matter of you have known Jesus for 30 days or 30 years – your baptism will be incredibly special in your walk with God and your witness to those around you. So it’s never too late! You may be a brand-new believer or someone who embraced God’s gift of salvation many decades ago – it doesn’t matter. If you have not been baptised as a believer and proclaimed your faith through this very special practice which Jesus Himself submitted to, then I encourage you to start talking to God about this and see where He may lead you.

In our baptism, we let the whole world know:   

That Jesus saves
That Jesus still changes lives
That Jesus is worthy of our everything
That we belong to Jesus
That our story has been rewritten
That our heart has found its home